6th Gear does not require a competition license however all registrants must possess a valid provincial or state driver’s license and have significant advanced and/or high-performance driving experience that can be demonstrated during a sign-off session.

It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure they are medically fit to operate their car at a 6th Gear event. 

It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure their car is mechanically fit to endure the forces that are applied to a car when lapping at high speeds approaching the limits of a car’s performance limitations.

These regulations are intended to assist in the conduct of 6th Gear track days and to further overall safety. They are a guide and in no way guarantee against injury or death to participants, spectators, or others. No express or implied warranties of safety or fitness for a particular purpose shall be intended or result from publication or compliance with these regulations. By registering for a 6th Gear event, all participants are deemed to have understood and accepted these terms, including that motorsport is inherently dangerous and it is each participant’s obligation to meet and maintain compliance with all regulations to reduce the risk of death or injury to self or others, recognizing that such risk is inherent to the sport and cannot be completely eliminated.

6th Gear sanctions The Motorsport Marshalling Services group who are posted at multiple locations around the race course. They observe the actions of all drivers on the course and use a set of different coloured flags to communicate to the drivers about conditions on the racetrack.

Questionable driver behaviour will be reported to race control and vehicle(s) in question will be black flagged to pit lane and appropriate action taken.

Effective communication is critical on the track and requires all drivers to have a 360-degree awareness of what's happening around them at all times. This requires drivers to possess highly effective vision skills; checking mirrors frequently while simultaneously observing the flags being displayed by the Corner Marshals.

A mandatory drivers meeting will take place prior to the track opening, and will review the flagging procedures for the day with all drivers. In the event that a driver arrives after the driver’s meeting has taken place, it is that driver’s responsibility to locate a 6th Gear representative and review the driver’s meeting notes prior to going track side.

PASSING RULE:  the car being passed must signal to the passing car what side to pass on. This is communicated by either using the car’s turn indicator OR signalling by pointing by hand OR both.

>>> NO SIGNAL- NO PASS-NO EXCEPTIONS <<<

WHERE PASSING IS ALLOWED

Passing is allowed everywhere. 

HOLD YOUR LINE- when being passed!

The car being passed should stay on the racing line if possible and not make evasive moves to let the passing car by. 

If car being passed is off the race line, do not alter course. Simply hold the line, signal side to pass on and the passing car will execute cautiously until pass completed.

IF YOU ARE BEING PASSED- signal early!

It is the responsibility of a car being passed to signal to the passing car as early as possible to allow the passing car to do so with confidence.  The car being passed shall let up on throttle to help execute the pass. 

IF YOU ARE MAKING THE PASS- wait for a signal!

It is the passing car’s responsibility to execute each pass only when the pass signal has been received from car being passed.

If a driver catches up a car and no signal has been made- do not pass. Maintain position behind the car until signal has been given and/or pull into the pits and let the pit Marshal know so that appropriate action can be taken.

   >>> No Signal! No Pass! No Exceptions! <<<

ENTERING THE PITS:

Before entering the pits from the Course, Drivers shall signal by raising an arm outside the car and if not able, stay drivers right when exiting corner 9 and signal to cars behind to pass on left side.

ENTERING THE TRACK:

• Helmets are mandatory, and helmet straps must be done up
• Windows must be either fully up or down
• Windshield sticker must be affixed to top left of windshield
• Wrist band on left hand so pit out Marshal can quickly see it
• Respect BLENDLINE right until it ends

IF STOPPED/DISABLED TRACKSIDE 

DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR IF STOPPED ON TRACK UNLESS ON FIRE...

If your car is disabled- please stop in a manner so as not to obstruct the other cars trackside and stay in your car with belts on unless directed by course marshals.

You will return to pit lane >>> seated and belted in your car >>> unless otherwise directed by Marshals.

Do not stop on track to pick up a stranded driver.

Being able to communicate with drivers on the track is done using different coloured flags that are displayed at the marshalling stations at each corner around the course.

There are many reasons to communicate with drivers while on course. Some examples to control the pace and position of cars on the circuit as follows:

• A car has stopped either on the racing surface or pulled off the track.
• A collision of any type involving any number of cars and or retaining walls and barriers.
• A car is on fire causing the driver to stop and get out of the car.
• A car is driving slowly trying to get back to the pits leaving a trail of fluid on the racing surface.
• Debris on the racing surface creating an unsafe situation if hit by a car
• A car has an apparent mechanical issue not yet detected by the driver ie: smoke coming from the car, 

There may be a critical situation on the track requiring immediate attention and all cars on the track are to stop safely at the next Marshal station ahead.

We use these flags to communicate, warn, and direct drivers what to do given the nature of the incident trackside. It is every driver’s responsibility to fully understand what each flag means and how to respond to it. 

All cars when trackside are at the control of the Marshalling group around the course and are required to take direction from the Marshals at all times.

Before the track opens 6th Gear hosts a mandatory driver meeting to review conduct for the day, passing rules and flagging procedures. If after the driver meeting there are any questions, please ask any 6th Gear member to clarify before going trackside. 

The following describes each flag’s meaning at 6th Gear Events:

GREEN FLAG: 

Track is open and clear for use...often displayed for the first few laps of a driving session or following a caution/yellow flag. 

YELLOW FLAG: 

The yellow flag is a signal of danger of any nature at or beyond the station displaying the flag. SLOW DOWN. 

Passing is NOT to occur in the “Yellow No Passing Zone” that begins at the Flag Station where the yellow flag is shown and extends to the next flag station displaying a green flag. 

Yellow flags may be shown in 4 ways: 

ONE FLAG MOTIONLESS 

When the yellow flag is shown "motionless" it shall be moved with a side-to-side rocking motion. 

The course is unobstructed. 

OR

There is an obstruction located off the course or in the next sector. 

OR

The following post is displaying yellow flag(s). 

When the obstruction will remain in position for the remainder of the session the yellow flag shall be shown motionless for two laps and then withdrawn. 

ONE FLAG WAVED 

The course is obstructed. The obstruction is located on or immediately adjacent to the course. Workers may be on or near the course. 

The corner captain or the Clerk may request preceding posts to display a motionless flag. 

When the obstruction will remain in position for the remainder of the session the yellow flag shall be waved for two more laps, shown motionless for two laps and then withdrawn. 

TWO FLAGS WAVED

Be prepared to stop.

The course is seriously or completely obstructed. Workers may be on the course.

The corner captain or the Clerk may request preceding posts to display a motionless flag. 

TWO FLAGS MOTIONLESS AT ALL STATIONS AND START FINISH 

 There is an issue/ incident up ahead... be prepared to take evasive action...slow down...no passing is allowed...if the yellow flag is waved it indicates that the problem is just ahead and or that a portion or all of the track is blocked and potentially the problem is very serious. You must be prepared to stop if necessary...often this flagging pattern will be shown before a red flag. 

Slow down significantly, stay to driver's right of the track and be alert for response vehicles, recovery vehicles or Safety Car entering the track from any of their locations. This may occur with or without the Pace/Safety Car. 

Yellow flag procedure for restarts can be found in Race Regulations Section 2.6. 

If the pit lane exit is within a yellow zone, the Pit-Out marshal may mirror the yellow flag status of that zone. 

When necessary, during the display of a yellow flag, drivers shall be instructed by means of hand signals to keep to the side of the Course that is not obstructed. 

During full course yellow situations, the pit exit shall be closed each lap when the Pace Car reaches a location to be specified in the Supplementary Regulations for the event. The pit exit shall remain closed until the main pack has passed the pit exit. 

RED FLAG: 

Waved at all marshal posts and by the Starter, it informs all Drivers to cease racing, slow down significantly from normal speed, stay to driver's right of the track and be alert for response vehicles, recovery vehicles or clean up vehicles entering from any of their locations and prepare to stop at any time. For warm-up, practice or qualifying sessions, proceed around to pit lane unless directed otherwise by officials. For races, proceed around the Course to the Start/Finish remaining on-track unless directed otherwise by officials. 

When displayed at pit out informs the driver that they cannot exit from pit lane to the track. 

Upon seeing this flag a driver must come to a complete controlled stop at the side of the track. Then proceed to the pits in first gear upon being told to do by a marshall. 

BLACK FLAG: 

Held steady and displayed at the start/finish line accompanied by the word "ALL" on a board, and at all marshal posts, informs all Drivers that the current Course session has been halted and that they shall return to the pits at the conclusion of the current lap. 

BLACK FLAG WITH ORANGE DISC: 

The orange disk shall be 400mm in diameter. Shown motionless at the start/finish line or other location specified in the Supplementary Regulations, and accompanied by a number on a board, it informs the Driver of the car designated that the Car has mechanical problems likely to endanger the Driver or others. The Driver shall stop at his/her pit on the next lap. 

BLUE FLAG: 

The blue flag informs Drivers that they may be about to be overtaken by a faster Car. When the blue flag is waved, it draws the Driver's attention either to the closeness of the Car about to overtake, or to the high speed at which it is approaching. 

The blue flag may be shown motionless when the faster Car is still some distance away and when the flag marshal feels that overtaking will take place in the following sector. 

Waved signifies a faster car is approaching and you are about to be passed, pointed right at you means you are being passed right now.

YELLOW FLAGS WITH RED STRIPES:

The yellow and red striped flag informs Drivers to take care. It is used to warn of a slippery surface such as caused by the presence of oil, water and/or debris on the Course surface. 

 The flag shall be displayed for four laps or until the surface returns to normal. 

“Oil Flag” indicates oil or slippery conditions…often placed at the exact location of the problem.

WHITE FLAG: 

The white flag informs Drivers that they are about to overtake a vehicle which is travelling on the Course at a much slower speed than the Competitors. The white flag shall be shown when a service vehicle is on the course or when a competing car is moving at a reduced speed. 

The white flag shall be waved as soon as the slow-moving vehicle has gone past the flagger's post and this shall continue until the vehicle reaches the following post, and then shown motionless while the vehicle is crossing the next sector then withdrawn. If the vehicle stops on the Course, the white flag shall immediately be replaced with a yellow flag. 

An ambulance or slow moving vehicle is on the track...please be on the look out for it...waved means that it is just ahead. No passing!!! 

CHECKERED FLAG: 

The driving session is over...slow down and cool your car down...exit track at the end of lap.